Se7en (1995) Review

CLAYTON'S CREEPY CINEMA!

WEEK 4: CREATIVE KILLERS

Se7en (1995)

This week is all about creative killers, and they don’t come much more creative than the psychopath behind the horrific events in Se7en. Part crime drama, part neo-noir thriller, this David Fincher directed film is, at its core, a pure horror film and one of the most unsettling ever made.

After one of the strangest and creepiest opening credit sequences that is sure to get under your skin, we get to know the soon-to-be-retired Detective Somerset, played by Morgan Freeman, and his new young partner Mills (Brad Pitt), who just transferred to his department. The entire movie takes place over the course of a week, and on day one, Mills and Somerset investigate the first of many murders to come: a man who was forced to eat so much, he died. The next day, the body of a rich attorney is found. They start investigating, and Somerset starts catching on to the pattern. The first murder was gluttony, the second was greed. Next they find sloth, which further reveals the killer’s elaborate plot to recreate all of the seven deadly sins, and confirms that he has been planning this deceitful act quite extensively. As the detectives close in on the killer, whose actual identity turns out to be John Doe, they don’t realize they are playing right into his trap. The final pieces of John Doe’s sadistic puzzle fall into place, but for the detectives, it may be too late to stop him.

Se7en is an intelligent and terrifying film, both upon first viewing and repeated views. The plot is extremely original and very well orchestrated, with all the events unfolding at a perfectly suspenseful pace and the mystery elements coming to light at the perfect time. Director David Fincher gives the film a grim look and makes every frame either interesting or terrifying to look at. Even the subtle details in this film are unnerving—some of them among the scariest elements. The city is never identified, but I wish that it was so I can remind myself never to move there. It has all the typical elements of a big city—crime, busyness, dirtiness—but it’s also caught in a constant rain storm. Everywhere you go it’s wet, dark, and depressing. The seven murders are very effectively done, and the first one (gluttony) in particular is a truly shocking way to open the film, which grabs your attention and holds you there until the end. The ending seems to get mixed opinions, with some feeling the twist (which I won’t spoil) is too dark and others feeling it’s underwhelming. I think it’s an ingenious ending, and even though it’s definitely a depressing one, works well and is one of the most memorable aspects of the film.

Se7en is sick but brilliant, with its mysterious and bold premise, realistic and revolting gore effects, and engaging performances. It might be too sick for some to stomach (the sloth scene alone goes down in my books as one of the most disturbing from any film), but Se7en is definitely a must-watch for any horror fan who wants to see something a little different and a lot scary.